The 4-CD set is notable for including numerous tracks which had been previously released, but had never been available on an official Billy Joel album, including songs from his days with the Lost Souls, the Hassles, and Attila, various B-sides, and soundtrack contributions such as "Why Should I Worry?", which his character sang in the Disney animated film Oliver & Company. A bonus DVD is also included featuring live performances from River of Dreams Tour.

The cover of the box set was painted by Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, when she was seven years old.[2]

It was Joel's 20th album to chart on the Billboard200, peaking at No. 171 in December 2005.

In a 2018 interview, Joel seemed to indicate the box set was compiled and released without his consent, stating that "it was unfinished stuff that never should have been heard. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I refer to that album as Twigs and Stems and Seeds — you’re not supposed to smoke that shit."[3]